The United States military continued its campaign against Iran for the seventh consecutive night on Friday, with Central Command stating that the operations are intended to degrade Iranian military capabilities. The strikes, which commenced at 7pm GMT, have targeted various locations across the country, including cities such as Sirik, Ahvaz, and Yazd, according to reports from Iranian media.
Earlier on Friday, US airstrikes destroyed bridges in the southern Hormozgan province, a move that resulted in the deaths of at least seven people. Further military actions included the destruction of a tower at Chabahar port, which the US military alleged was being utilized by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to facilitate attacks on vessels within the Strait of Hormuz. Additional strikes hit Iranshahr airport and critical electrical infrastructure, prompting the Iranian energy ministry to urge citizens to reduce power usage as the grid faces extreme strain.
Human rights experts have raised concerns that targeting civilian infrastructure not serving military purposes could constitute a war crime. By Friday morning, Iranian health ministry spokesperson Hossein Kermanpour reported that at least 38 people had been killed and over 400 wounded due to the renewed US campaign. These attacks align with President Donald Trump’s stated intent to expand strikes against Iran, including energy facilities, as he seeks to force the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
The conflict has triggered retaliatory threats and actions from Iran. The IRGC warned of a “devastating price” for nations hosting US bases if attacks on infrastructure persist. Iranian forces reportedly targeted sites in Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Oman, and Qatar. In Kuwait, strikes hit a power and desalination plant, damaging the water facility; the country relies on desalinated water for about 90% of its drinking water. While falling debris from intercepted missiles wounded a child in Qatar. The IRGC also claimed to have targeted a US combat aircraft site at Sheikh Isa air base in Bahrain and a US naval fuel-support pier in Kuwait.
Maritime tensions have surged as Washington and Tehran promote competing transit routes. The US has implemented a blockade of Iran’s ports that began earlier this week, with the military reporting the boarding of a ship in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday and the redirection of three commercial vessels “trying to run the blockade” since it took effect at 8pm GMT on Tuesday. Iran’s IRGC denied claims that two oil tankers had hit mines in the Strait of Hormuz, while Iranian state media reported that the US struck an empty oil tanker docked at Kharg Island. Lloyd’s List Intelligence noted that shipping through the strait dropped by nearly 25% early this month, with many operators keeping vessels stationary to avoid the risks of the escalating violence.
Amid these developments, Iran has reportedly asked the Houthis in Yemen to prepare for a potential closure of the Red Sea oil route should the US continue targeting energy infrastructure. Despite the regional instability, President Trump maintained that the conflict is progressing favorably for the US, stating, “We are likewise winning big in Iran.” Meanwhile, Pakistan’s foreign ministry has expressed that diplomatic efforts to bring the two nations to the negotiating table are becoming increasingly difficult.
